List of terms to use when writing about film Black Balloon Film Study 2011 Commenting on Film 1. When we watch a film we are not simply influenced by what the characters say and do but also by the way the camera portrays the scenes and the way the background sounds and music affects us. A film is a consciously constructed world. The Camera instructions are very detailed. Every frame of the film is checked by the director and most of the shots end up on the cutting room floor. Even more than in a novel, everything in a film is the result of a deliberate choice. Of course the director does not always succeed in achieving the desired effects
Most terms used to describe the way the camera is used in a film are easy to understand. They describe · The way the camera is moved · The angle at which it is pointed · The distance from the object The language used to discuss film is basically easy and you have all discussed it in earlier years You need to learn the following terms
Common Terms used in Film Analysis
A shot- the picture taken by the camera Tracking shots- where the camera is moved alongside the scene Overhead Tracking- where the camera is moved above the scene Panning shots- where the camera stays in one spot, but the lens is move d to follow the action Angled shots- where the camera is pointed up or down at an object Framed shots- where objects or light create an edge or border for the shot Merging shots- where one shot is partly covered by another Close ups- where a person’s head and shoulders nearly fills the screen Mid shots – where the whole person fits in the screen and is the main thing in the shot Long shots – people or objects in the distance are hard to identify. The surroundings are more important than the people. Cut-off shots – where there is a clear switch from one image to the other- a clear editing choice by the director Flash back- where the film shows events that happened before those the audience has seen.
What is the effect on the viewer of these different choices of shots?
If you wanted to make someone look threatening, what camera angle would you use? Looking up at them or looking down on them? What effect does framing a shot have ? eg looking through a window at a scene or character? Seeing something through glass or water or a screen? What techniques can an editor use to transition between scenes and why would you use certain transitions over others? As in a novel, a film does not have to develop chronologically. How can the director indicate a ‘flashback’’ scene? How can a director let us know that one character has seen something but not another character? 2. We are subtly affected by colour, light and shade. Notice how the mood of the film is reflected in the visual tone of a film. Colour, light and shade can make us feel sad, afraid, relaxed, happy etc. 3. The sound track of a film consists of more than dialogue- what is said. A film is not simply a slice of life- it is a deliberate creation. Notice how rarely the sound track records overlapping dialogue and how often the background sounds are made to vary in intensity. Many soundtracks include music. Try to notice how you are affected by these Aural techniques. Sounds are divided into Diegetic and Non Diegetic 4. Acting - Character, tone, development & script. Note your impressions of characters and add to them as your reactions change. What puzzles you about a character? 5. Costumes, camera work and scene settings- this is often called ‘Mise en scene’ which is just a French term for ‘everything the camera sees on the set’ It excludes the soundtrack- ( dialogue, music, sound effects and editing techniques) 6. Taking notes on a film- this is difficult when you can only see the film once or twice but it is very important because you will have to write on the film a number of times. Make use of the running sheet on the wiki and on daymap. Make your own notes on the characters and the events. Enjoy the experience of the film , see which scenes you remember and which performances and think about the issues being discussed.
Black Balloon Film Study 2011
Commenting on Film
1. When we watch a film we are not simply influenced by what the characters say and do but also by the way the camera portrays the scenes and the way the background sounds and music affects us. A film is a consciously constructed world. The Camera instructions are very detailed. Every frame of the film is checked by the director and most of the shots end up on the cutting room floor. Even more than in a novel, everything in a film is the result of a deliberate choice. Of course the director does not always succeed in achieving the desired effects
Most terms used to describe the way the camera is used in a film are easy to understand. They describe
· The way the camera is moved
· The angle at which it is pointed
· The distance from the object
The language used to discuss film is basically easy and you have all discussed it in earlier years
You need to learn the following terms
Common Terms used in Film Analysis
A shot- the picture taken by the cameraTracking shots- where the camera is moved alongside the scene
Overhead Tracking- where the camera is moved above the scene
Panning shots- where the camera stays in one spot, but the lens is move d to follow the action
Angled shots- where the camera is pointed up or down at an object
Framed shots- where objects or light create an edge or border for the shot
Merging shots- where one shot is partly covered by another
Close ups- where a person’s head and shoulders nearly fills the screen
Mid shots – where the whole person fits in the screen and is the main thing in the shot
Long shots – people or objects in the distance are hard to identify. The surroundings are more important than the people.
Cut-off shots – where there is a clear switch from one image to the other- a clear editing choice by the director
Flash back- where the film shows events that happened before those the audience has seen.
What is the effect on the viewer of these different choices of shots?
If you wanted to make someone look threatening, what camera angle would you use? Looking up at them or looking down on them?What effect does framing a shot have ? eg looking through a window at a scene or character? Seeing something through glass or water or a screen?
What techniques can an editor use to transition between scenes and why would you use certain transitions over others?
As in a novel, a film does not have to develop chronologically. How can the director indicate a ‘flashback’’ scene?
How can a director let us know that one character has seen something but not another character?
2. We are subtly affected by colour, light and shade. Notice how the mood of the film is reflected in the visual tone of a film. Colour, light and shade can make us feel sad, afraid, relaxed, happy etc.
3. The sound track of a film consists of more than dialogue- what is said. A film is not simply a slice of life- it is a deliberate creation. Notice how rarely the sound track records overlapping dialogue and how often the background sounds are made to vary in intensity.
Many soundtracks include music. Try to notice how you are affected by these Aural techniques. Sounds are divided into Diegetic and Non Diegetic
4. Acting - Character, tone, development & script.
Note your impressions of characters and add to them as your reactions change. What puzzles you about a character?
5. Costumes, camera work and scene settings- this is often called ‘Mise en scene’ which is just a French term for ‘everything the camera sees on the set’ It excludes the soundtrack- ( dialogue, music, sound effects and editing techniques)
6. Taking notes on a film- this is difficult when you can only see the film once or twice but it is very important because you will have to write on the film a number of times. Make use of the running sheet on the wiki and on daymap. Make your own notes on the characters and the events.
Enjoy the experience of the film , see which scenes you remember and which performances and think about the issues being discussed.